Adapter mechanism for dictaing machines



y 1950 T. H. BEARD HAL 2,515,688

ADAPTER MECHANISM FOR DICTATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 TO 5 Tlz g re 6]? ,Beai'd BY 60: e W amerom 7 ad W ATTORNEYS y 1950 T. H. BEARD ETAL 2,515,688

ADAPTER MECHANISM FOR DICTATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T E. e 68 22 Z8 Z6 69 29 30 Z6 2g) ca 48 /5 6W6 24 W 9 64 25 I 4 6 0 47 L 65 9 mf /9 14 63 6 L54 9-: (D 6 e 52 I I8 l 57 67 66) 37 /6 I INVENTORS Theodore H Beard BY eolye W Cameron f ATTORNEYS y ,1950 T. H. BEARD ETAL 2,515,638

ADAPTER MECHANISM FOR DICTATING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTORS Theodore H. Beard BY 96078 "(Cameron aw, M

ATTOR Patented July 18 1950 rho This invention relatesto machines ,for, record; :inaand/or reproducing sound, and more partic- ..ularly ;to, adaptor ,mechanism for ,enabling belt record, recording on1;standard icylindrical record dictating machines; whereby a machine of .the typerdescribedzmay-beusedto record as usualon a cylindrical record; blank, or, by ,the 1 easy addi- ,tion of suitable ;par,t s,; be usedto record onshort endless flexiblebelt recordblanks. i i i For an understanding ,of, the generalfeatures ,of cylindrical record dictating machines 1 oflpthe .type noted above} towllich thepresent invention might be, applied, reference may be hadlto ,U.,-;S.

Patents 2,057,621, October 13, 1936, and,2,l43;,8l9,

. gD ictating machines designed, for the efiective ,use :of endless fiexiblerecord loops or belts are known, such a one beingfully disclosed in Ua-S. .Patent 2,318,828, May .11, 1 943. In the latter ,tdisclosure the record element consists of1an end- ,less loopof thin fllmlike material such as acetate, -whichis capable of having formed thereon arec- 0rd groove by an embossing or cutting stylus.

. =-An object of the present invention is to provide simple, reliable andeasily installed and operated tadapting, means for suitably supporting a loop record blank upon thesamedriving mandrelas Iis used when recording on wax cylinders A fur.- ';ther object, is to provide a simple and easily oper- =able tensioning device for resiliently-taking up ;the. slack of the recordbelt, the latter 'means being easily. adjustable to a :collapsed position whereat its several .partsare drawn to gether so that a loop record may readilybe removed from or put upon the mandrel in operative relation to V ':the recording or pickup unit, as the case maybe. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. 1 The invention accordingly'consists in the'fea ,tures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements ofparts as will beexemplified inthe structure to be hereinafter describedand the scope of the application of which w ill'be indicatedin the followingclaims. i

i In the accompanying, drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention, i

Fig. l is a front elevation of adictating machine of the said type, with parts broken away and other parts omitted, disclosing an embo'dimnt of the present inventiony, t v Fig. 2 is an enlarged right ndelevation of the :1 Fe 3 is We enfv l iar ifi e of t ravomitted entirely;

paratus shown in Fig. 1,. on thesame scale as Fig.2; f 1 r Fighel is an elevation similar to Fig. 2showing the tensioning device in a collapsed position .and with many machine partswhich appear in Fig. 2

Fig. ,5 is a cross-section taken on line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 3, as indicatedby the arrows, showing the supporting means forlthe inner end of th record belt idlerpulley; i

- Fig. 6 is a cross-sectiontaken on 1inev.6--6.:o f

:Fig. 2 as indicated by the arrows;

t Fig. 7 is an end elevation showing the belt ten- ,Sioning and releasing device in a functional position midway; between Figs. 2 and 4;

i Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken on line ;8+-8.:.of

Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of certain elements of the. tensioning device. Referring to the drawings, thephonograph shown is one normally employed for. recording on wax cylinders, but, as described herein, suitable easily, applied and detached parts have been incorporated in the structure toaccomplish the :objects above set forth, namely to render the ma chine suitable for recording on short pliablaloop record blanks.

The machine comprises a base luwhich, by

means of a suitable standard; lll at leit side of the machine, rotatably supportsa tapered mandrel ii. The mandrel l2 normally is .usedto support the well known wax record cylinder, not

shown, commonly used to provide the record, re;- ceiving surface in commercial phonographic ma fchines When so used, the mandrel provides ,a Iseat for ,the tapered inner'surface of therecqrd cylinder.

A recording or othertranslation unit l3 is sup .portedupon a carriage 14 mounted totravel longitiidinally of themachine onguide rods 15 and I6 supported at their left ends inthe standard I I, and at the'irrig-ht ends respectively in the stand- .ards ll and I8. The traverseoi the carriage is accomplished by, means of a rotatin feed screw l9 whichengagesa feed nut, not shown, "carried by the carriage.. DuringIrecording, the record blank is engaged'in awell known .mannerby a stylus, not shown, suitably mounted for vibration upon the recording unit 13. All of the parts thus far described andtheir ,functions and operation may correspondto the embodiment disclosedin the said s. Patent 2.0574621.

When held in. engagement,,withithe l re blank, the stylus [is vibratedto recur-commie form characteristics corresponding to the sound wave received by'the translating unit, as the carriage is moved longitudinally with respect to the rotating mandrel l2; in the manner usual with machines of this type.

The mandrel adapter or drive pulley and the belt tensioning mechanism comprising the features added to the known structurawill now be described.

A mandrel adapter 21 is provided to convert the tapered mandrel I2 into a flatpulley for; driving and supporting the record belt 26. This adapter has a plain uncrownedcylind'rical outer;

end of the rock shaft 35'is rotatably mounted in a bracket member 31which extends upwardly from a bracket plate Sit-secured to theupper surface of: the machine base lll-rin a suitable position near the outer end of the mandrel. Alsomounted on theinner end of said rock shaft in nonrotative relation thereto, is a curved arm 39 whichis angularly displaced with reference to 'the arm 35, asbest shown in Figs. 5 and 9. These surface and interiorly is cone' taperedtozhave a close sliding fit over the tapered-surface 6f the" standard mandrel I2. 'A flange or shroud 22 is i provided at the inner or left endof the adapteror false mandrel to aid in positioning the record The outer or right end of the-mandrel belt. adapter is closed and is provided withacentral opening of a size to :permitthe freepassage ofa shoulder screw 23 which threads into theendof "the standard mandrel. The shoulder of screw 23 :abuts againstthe end surface of that adapter and retains the latter securely upon therstanda'rd mandrel l2. Mounted upon theshoulde'mof the "screw 23 and directly insi'deofthe head thereof,

'ai'plate. 24 is mounted to have both oscillating "and sliding movementfupon the said screw; in a plane at right angles to themandrel axis. This plate is slotted, as shown at '25, to providefor its transverse sliding movement. Behind "the plate 24 and unattached thereto, there is rotati-vely mounted a shroud plate 26, which f is also slotted, as shown at 21; for sliding movement rem-rivets the plate 2 transversely of the mandrel axis. This shroud plate on the side adjacent the" plate=24 isfor'med to providea shallow channel 26 adapted to hold the fiatshank2 8 of-a tliin s'pring steel shroud member 29. Theshroud member may be spot weldedtothe surface of the shroud plate 26 or otherwise secured 'thereto. The'shank 28 of the-shroud memberds-also slotted out, as indicated at 30, soas to provide'for' movement of the shroud plate uponthe s'crew' 23.

-I-n-.the position of the parts as shown:in Fig.2, the shroud member 29 extends out beyond'the *edgeofthe mandrel adapter and serves to prote-t the edge 'of the record belt 2ll andpreven't itsaccidentalremoval from-said mandrel. fWhen the parts are'moved to the; position shown inl ig. lf-this "shroud member drawn within the-circumference of the mandrel and thusoffers no interference to theremovalofthe belt'frornthe "mandrel; A pin 31 extending. rearwardly' from the 'plate24 is'adapted,in a third intermediate position of the parts, to engage a hookedportio'n '32 of-"the shroud plate to causesaidshroud twoarmsxare connected together by a, tension sp'ring lfl whose-ends are attached to pins 4| and 42 projecting laterally from the respective arms.

"When'free-to act, the spring 40 tends to pull arms 35 and 55mm radial alignment. Any

spect to the arm downward movement of arm 39 exerts through the springlu a downward pull upon the arm 35 which tends to bring the left end of the idler pulleyqsfiztowa position to tighten the record' 'belt atJ=that-'end'.i "However, by'rnovement'iof thence]: shaft, the arm 39 may bemovediupwardly-tomelease the tension ontheiarm 55 and. pulley- 33. :"pin '43 projecting: from the-side of the arm '35 ts adapted to engagetheupper' surface of theiarm 39 and limi t'the movement of said arm withi-re This position is shown clearly in Fig.4. Mounted upon the outer-*or riglitendof the rock shaft 351s ashort arm 44 "carrying a roller 45 adapted to be engagedi by a member. hereinafter described, to cause maveme'rit of the rockshaft for belt tensioning. 1

rpui poses. i g

1 Going back to the idler pulley--33, itswouterwr right "end is provided "with" a journal 55*wllich platebothto swingand slide upon the screw-'23 and "thus effect change of position from that shown in Fig. 2 to thatshown'in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows theparts in said intermediateTposition where the pin 3'! has engaged the hook 32 butha's not yet swung the shroud membe'fabout screw 23'to effect withdrawal of the shroud'memberto theposition shownin'Fig. 4. i

r The tensioning member for 'the "record b'elt esmprisesan idler" pulley 33 which is "substantially the same length' as the mandrel pulley and ls'mounted rearwardlyofan'd below the aids of the mandrel pulley to rotate in laterally adjusta- 'ble bearings, and also to have slight end. playin i said bearings. rhesesrmgisa for the'idle'rpulley ha bearingin an extendedportion 46 'of tlre plate 24." The said journal is long enough 'tb eittend through the plate 24 and also through the r earen'dof a leverl-l. This levef-lTpiVdts about: the axis of the idler pulley and is -hldfln proper juxtapositionto'-theplate 24 by meansdf aretaiherfplate 48' whichis secured to the face ot "-the plate 24 as by 'me'ans 'df the screws M9. f 'slightly forward of its 1 fulcrum, the 3I lever l' 'l ls provided with a downwardly extendingxtcam :memb'er 50 which) asirnentioned above, inaaicer- -tain.tposition' of theiparts engages thesroller 45 or the rocker. arm '44 and. effects osciliatiomcdf the-. rockishaft; The lever" extendsforwar'dly from its fulcrum" to a :pointzbelow andfadj'acerit to the outer v end-ofathe .man drel where. it is pro:-

vided with a rearwardly extending boss-.551; ssee Fig; 6.v This boss-is, thread-edly engaged? b a tensioning device. 1 operating *screw- 52:: having-a knurled 1 head 53 and a portion 54 which engages the threads of aphole extending; throughsth boss 5|. It Willbe understoodithat the lever 3 is-aperturedtso that thescrew passesthrough both lever and bOSSi As shown in the drawings,

the hole in-the -lever '41 is made large enough to receive a. projecting portion 55 0f. the boss 51 which: may be suita'blysecured to the-lever.

' as by riveting. Just beneaththe-knurledrhead 53,;the screw 52 carries a 1 pair of spacedzcollars between which-extends thetend of a bent leaf spring member 56. This member is rig-idlyisecuredto the. lever arm 41 and tends to holdany adjustment ofithe-operating screw 52.

- A. portion of the bracket-plate :38 extends sup.-

\vardly, as at 57; andlisperforated, as at.58,'to receive thetapered en'd 59 o'ff the screw 52 which passes'freelythrough the opening in said bracket member. Operation of this. particularffeatureis 1 obvious, for-it is plain that order to release 1 plate 24. By reference to, igs. 2 and 4, it will beseen and unscrew until the end 59 .comes clear of the hole 58in the bracket member, 51 after which position. Normally, as soon as thescrew is released fromengagementwith the bracket member, the free end of the ,lever41 is drawn up- ,wardly toward the pivot center of the plate 24 until a shoulder 60 ,on the lever 41 engages a the lever 41 for, movement about its, fulcrum, it ,is,only necessaryto grasp the knurled head 53 stop member 6| mounted upon the plate 24., This a by means of a tension spring 62 which, engages a pin 63 on the lever 41 and a pin 84 on the that an upstanding portion; 66 of the bracket ,plate 38 serves as an abutment, engaging portlon 61 01 the lever 41 to hold thelatter tightly in the position shown. Thus thereis no possibility of the end59 of the knurl screw 53 being vunwantedlyreleased from engagement with the bracket member 51. r

,; It will also be, seen, by reference to Fig. 2} that theshroud member 29 has an arcuate portion 68 extending beyond the periphery of the mandrel adapter and concentric therewith. As

. portion 68, which isprovided with a detent 69,

will be explained later, the edge of this arcuate serves in conjunction with the boss 5! of lever .41 as a cam to cause retraction of the shroud plate as the tensioning and releasing parts are collapsed for record removal.

removal is as follows: i 1

Assuming that the said device stands in the position shown in Fig. Zandthat the belt 20 is of a length; to be properly tightened by reason of the fixed position of the right-hand journal {If the idler pulley inthis position and the reslliently held position of the left-hand journal of said pulley, which isheld in the movable bearing 34, to remove thefrecord halt the operator flrstturns (out ,thescrew 52 until its tapered end is ,clear of the bracket 51. This will free the lever "41 and plates 24 and 26 for further adjustinent. Lever 41 will swing under the tension of spring 62 to theposition shown in Fig. 7 with the lever shoulder 60 in contact with the plate abutment 61. Now by exerting pressure on the knurled head 53, the plate 24 can be slid upwardly on,the screw 23 untilthe pin 3| makes contact with the hook 32 on shroud plate 25. Further upward movement of the parts by finger pressure will cause plate 24 and the shroud plate ,upward movement of the lever 41 is accomplished spring; 4|] until further movement is stopped ,by

contact of the arm,39 with pin 43 on arm 35.

During this recovery movement the rock shaft will turn slightly, counterclockwise returning the rocker arm 44 to its raised position. The ,arm ilii being looseupon the rock shaft will thus be free to ,shift upwardly with the upward movement of the right-handgbearing of the idler pulley; In this way all tension is removed from the record belt which may be readily slipped by hand off of both the mandrel adapter and the idler pulley. After anew belt has been put in place upon themandrel adapter, the lever 41 is pulled downall the way and its left end securedin fixed positionby -means of the knurled screw 5%. i will return all ofthe parts to the position of Fig. 2 i

This movement hand edge of the record belt in case of anytendcency of the said belt to shift in that direction,

:From the foregoing it will be seen; that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects hereinbefore set forth in a simple manner.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and pointed out in the accompanying claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and variations may, be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

3 What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a horizontally disposed drive shaft, mounting means for an endless belt record blank having belt tensioning characteristics comprising, an upper pulley carried by said shaft and adapted to be driven thereby, a lower pulley rotatable about an adjustable axis movable into a tensioning position substantially parallel with said upper pulley, bearingmeans supporting one end of said 26 to rotate counterclockwise about the screw 23unti1, because of the inward tilting of the lower end of the arcuate portion of the shroud member 29, the boss, 5| of lever 41 rides up on to the arcuate surface 68 of said shroud member 29, whereupon continued counterclockwise movement forces the shroud plate 25 radially inward, sliding on-the screw 23 until the screw engages the left-hand end of the slot 21. When the parts have been completely, collapsed, the lever abutment 5| will rest in the detent 69 holding all of the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4.

,In this final position, the right-hand journal of the idler pulley has been swung in close to the periphery of 'themandrel adapter. The raising of the cam 50 withmovernent ofthe lever 41 having removed pressure from the rocker arm 44. th v rm 3 l n Btwi l; e; w nivs ther b lower pulley and laterally movable for causing displacement of said end of saidpulley, with respect to said upperpulley, bearing means for the other end of said lower pulley having freedom of movement to permit lateral displacementof the other end of said lower pulley, a manually operable lever for moving said one end bearing means into belt tensioning position and cooperative means operable in response to tensioning opera? tion of said lever resiliently to effect movement of said other end bearin into belt tensioning position.-

combination, a horizontally disposed drive shaft, mounting means for an endless belt record blank having belttensioning characteristics comprising, an upper pulley carried by said shaft and adapted to be driven thereby, a lower pulley rotatable about an adjustable axis movable into a tensioning position substantially parallel with said upper pulley, a lower pulley bearing supportmounted to pivot upon and, move laterally in relation to the axis of said upper pulley, a lever mounted to pivot about saidlower pulley bearing andbe 2. In apparatusof the character described,,in

bearing laterally awa from amass havir ig blt tensioniiigcharacteristics comprising,

"an upper pulley ear-ried-iby said shaft and adapted 450 be driven 'thlby, e lovferi pulley rotatable abou'tan'adjustable axis' -lhovable intoa tensioningpositioir'slibstafitiallyparallel With-said'upper pulley, a lower pulley bearing support'mounted to ilvdt upoii-and move laterally" in relation to the "saidj'upper pulley, a 'levermouiited tb pivot :abod said IOWerpuIIeybe'ai'ihg and-be movedto h to tension sa id belt i eleasable means 1.

a pesu sald l lever to said-{position to eife'c't movement i the-othei end-oflsaid lower pulley to belt tiisioiiing position, and resilient means "tehdiiigto'ielax blti tensibiiupen release of said holdingmeans.

=49 In apparatusof the character'describeiin conibinatlon; ahorizontally disposed drive shaft,

said shejftyiiiner-and outer bearings for said idler piill e'y locaited respeetively m operative; relation to he innei 'fand outer ends of said shaft, manual operable means for moving the' said outer said shaft to a belt 't'e'nsioriiri'g position, and "resilient means operaitlvly. asso'cziated with "said manually Operable 'n'rie'a-ris "f01- resp'oiisi-vly" moving said dimer bearing 7 to a belt tensioning position. 1

5. In apparatus of the ehai'aetefidesciibe'd, in acombina'tion, a drive pulley adapted to support an endless belt record blank, an idler pulley shiftable laterally toward and away from said i drive pulley axis to support andtension said belt; opposed bearings operatively supporting said idler pulley and independently shiftable with respect tbthe axisoisaid drive pulley, meansto shift one of said bearings between 1 a collapsed osition "for belt reiiiovafaiid a *belt" tehsioni'ng' position; a shroud member "rhovably mountedupon said drive pulley at -theouter end thereof, and cooperative means associated withsaid shift means and said shroud *member adapted to project said shroud member to an operative position beyond the pe'- riph'ery ofsaid drive pulley witlia shift of said shift means totensioning positiorl arid to retract said shroud member to an inoperative position withishift "of said shift means to beltur'emoval position; and means' to hold said shift means in tensioi-iirig position. i

6. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, ad'rive ulley adapted to support an endless'belt record blank, an idler pulley shiftable toward and away from said drive pulley ail-std support and tension" said belt; opposed bearings operativel-y supportiiig said idler pulley and iiidepeiideiitly" shift'able with respect to the axisof said drive pulley, means to shiftone' of said-bearings between a collapsed position for Belt removal and a belt te'I-isioning osition, a shroud member movably mounted uponsaid drive pulley 'at the outer end thereof; and 1 cooperative means" associated with said shift meansfland said sh oujd member adapted to project said shroud member toian operative positio beyond the pee; fipher efisaia alive pulley with l a shift of said Shift BIGEEIISW'WhSiOhlhE' positiofiahdto' fllfa'fi "ea'zis movabioin res onse to movement of epeeaeve means associated With said-beatings and said shift iiieans a fit'dtfio 7. ln apparatusof 'they chaiactei desci ibed; Combination, a "drive i pulley adapted support ""eli'l endless beltreeofd blahk, an -idlr "pijfll'e y =-shiwab1e toward and-away tram said dr'ive pulley "aids to uppm and tension-said belt; opposed bear-mgedeemeveiysupporting said ieier piiiiey sh-messed ether bearing to' leelttensioriijiig ifibsition in response to operationof said s-hif meafis aiiehdless bewrecoidb1ankg an mieepuiieyshim able tbtv'aid ahdaway from said drivepoi-levees to supiioifi and tensidiisaid be1t,:opposed eai ings operatively supporting said'id-lr full indeiierideiitlif*shifliable with iespe' "of saih drive pulle means to shift one gif saia beafihgsbetween a; cenapsea posmmn for be'lt 1- e1m wa1- and '-a belt tens'ioniiig position, add tioan endless belt record blankfifiifilf uns shift axis to support and tension said belt, opposed meseperatimly su imaftirlgsaid-misr-piineyiaria iIid-ependentlysliiftable with respect *toi-uier aiis of said driivediii'lleyi means to shiftdiie dfsaid beaiiiiesbetweeri acollapsedposition forbe removaiaeda belt tensidmn'gip'ositio iyanli ineaiis i neemtinatiou, snamrive-puney lravmg a .o letting" annular flange 'atits inner" end' aiijd adapted to support and drive an endless "belt re'cortl blank 'aii idler p iilley sliiftlble'toward ahd away-'from am "drivepulleyaidsto support 'aifd temsion sam beit; "opposed "Beari gs operate 613;

1 1: Iii" apparatus of theehaiacter ueseribeli,

sup orting said idier mley-aiid indepeiide sh fftable with respet toctheaxis ersald drive pulley, ahumeans to-shift arises-said ibeaiixigs between" a-"cc' llapsed position "far" beltier'r'ioirli ah'd' a belttensioziing positiom 12 ifiappamtus of "the haracti described; in combination, a'fiat drive puii'ey havm afirb jectiiig annular "flange at its inner end and adapted-to su port and drive an endless 'belt reeeru' blank, a'ii' idler'pulley shiftable toward and away fromsaid diive puney axis to support a d t natitii'L-"a' diiv pilHeYadaiptd t6 suppoft shiftable with respect to the axis of said drive pulley, means to shift one of said bearings between a collapsed position for belt removal and a belt tensioning position, a shroud member mov ably mounted upon said drive pulley at the outer end thereof, and cooperative means associated with said shift means and said shroud member adapted to project said shroud member to an operative position beyond the periphery of said drive pulley with a shift of said shift means to tensioning position and to retract said shroud member to an inoperative position with shift of said shift means tobelt removal position.

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a base, a, dnive pulley rotatively mounted on said base, driving means for said drive pulley mounted on said base, a rock-shaft mounted on said baseparallel to said drive pulley and substantially coextensive in length with said pulley, an idler pulley mounted to assume a posiley for facilitating removal of said belt, mounting means for said idler pulley comprising a, tight and a loose arm mounted upon an end of said rock-shaft adjacent the inner end of said drive pulley, a, tension spring connecting said arms tending to draw said arms into a position of mutual alignment, a bearing for rotatively mounting the inner end of said idler pulley carried by said loose arm, a, rock-arm tightly secured to said rock-shaft atthe other end thereof, platelike means for supporting a bearing for the outer end of said idler pulley slidably and rotatably mounted coaxially of said drive pulley at its outer end, and means for positively shifting said platelike means and simultaneously actuating said rock-arm to effect movement of said rock-shaft and thus move both ends of said idler pulley into tensioning position.

THEODORE H. BEARD. GEIO. W. CAMERON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of reoordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Neumann Feb. 8, 1944 

